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Burnley pair spared jail for assault in pub melee

TWO violent louts involved in a pub melee, which left a customer injured, were spared jail.

Burnley Crown Court heard how the trouble started at the busy Bees Knees, in Hammerton Street, when victim Anthony Hyatt believed Ryan Stanworth, 25, had been abusive to his disabled sister.

‘Bullying’ Stanworth, who had been drinking and had taken a Valium tablet, lost his temper and rained blows on the victim. Mr Hyatt then struck the defendant with a glass, and Stanworth hit the victim with a glass when co-defendant David Henderson, 31, intervened as peacemaker and was grappling with the complainant.

Stanworth then went back and carried on the attack, Henderson got involved again to split them up, felt a blow to his head, which he believed was from a glass the victim had in his hand, and repeatedly hit Mr Hyatt.

The hearing was told Stanworth, a former drug addict, had a record for violence and drugs, and Henderson had only just come out of licence after a three-year sentence for aggravated burglary, possessing an offensive weapon, and affray.

Stanworth, of Cleaver Street, and Henderson, of Pembroke Street, both Burnley, admitted assault, causing actual bodily harm, last March 27. Stanworth was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, with 12 months’ supervision and the Thinking Skills programme. Henderson was sentenced to eight months in jail, suspended for two years.